WESTMINSTER, Md. – A goal late in the first half by the McDaniel Green Terror was the difference on Wednesday afternoon as the Green Terror defeated the No. 1 Messiah women's soccer team by a 1-0 final score. The Falcons put on heavy pressure throughout the match, especially in the second half as they looked for the equalizer. Messiah outshot the Green Terror 11-3 in the match, but could not find the back of the net as they suffered their first defeat of the season.
 
Messiah moves to 4-1-0 on the young season and will be back in action on Saturday when they host the No. 5 William Smith Herons at 11:00 a.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
Scoreless Start
The Falcons and Green Terror played the first 40-plus minutes to a scoreless draw, however the start of the match was not without opportunities. The best of which came in the 13th minute when the ball found the foot of Tahlia Lloyd outside the box. Lloyd wound up and ripped a shot to the high center of the goal, requiring the McDaniel keeper to take a dropstep and use her top hand to make a jumping save to keep the match scoreless.
 
Prior to that rip from Lloyd, Messiah sent two shots on goal in the first 12 minutes. Both were saved with Bella Touzeau and Mia Libby putting attempts on frame in the fourth and 11th minutes, respectively.
 
McDaniel Finds the Board
No other shot went on goal until the 42nd minute when McDaniel stole possession off of a wayward pass by the Messiah backline. McDaniel's Sam Rodrick stepped in and picked off the pass, taking a pair of controlling touches into the box and getting one-on-one with the keeper. A quick right-footed shot snuck under the left arm of Raegan Salamone and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
 
Looking for the Equalizer
Messiah pushed hard after the break, attempting seven shots while holding McDaniel without an attempt. The Falcons put three of their second-half shots on frame, with Mia Libby (59th minute), Kristina Akselsen (74th minute), and Bella Touzeau (76th minute) requiring saves to keep the lead 1-0 in favor of McDaniel.
 
The Falcons would earn a corner kick in the final five minutes, but were unable to attempt a late shot as they fell 1-0.
 
What's Up Next
With the setback, Messiah falls to 4-1-0 and will face another stiff test on Saturday when the No. 5 William Smith Herons come to Grantham to take on the Falcons at 11:00 a.m. on Shoemaker Field.